Panel vibration type sound generating display device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a display device that includes a display panel, sound generating actuators including a first sound generating actuator in a first area of the display panel and a second sound generating actuator in a second area of the display panel, the first and second sound generating actuators configured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, and a partition between the first sound generating actuator and the second sound generating actuator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/038,075, filed Jul. 17, 2018, which is a Continuation of Ser. No.15/471,458, filed Mar. 28, 2017, which claims the priority of KoreanApplication No. 10-2016-0037118, filed Mar. 28, 2016, Korean ApplicationNo. 10-2016-0040885, filed Apr. 4, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0041384, filed Apr. 5, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0066455, filed May 30, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0067431, filed May 31, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0083122, filed Jun. 30, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0161789, filed Nov. 30, 2016, Korean Application No.10-2016-0162189, filed Nov. 30, 2016, and Korean Application No.10-2016-0183867, filed Dec. 30, 2016, all of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and particularly, toa display device that generates sound by vibrating a display panel.

Description of the Related Art

With the development of various portable electronic devices, such as amobile communication terminal and a notebook computer, a requirement fora display device applicable thereto is increasing. The display devicesinclude an electroluminescent display device, a liquid crystal displaydevice, a light emitting diode display device, and an organic lightemitting diode display device.

Among these display devices, the liquid crystal display (LCD) devicetypically includes an array substrate including an array of thin filmtransistor, an upper substrate including a color filter layer and/or ablack matrix, etc., and a liquid crystal material layer formedtherebetween, wherein an alignment state of the liquid crystal iscontrolled according to an electric field applied between two electrodesof a pixel area, and thereby the transmittance of light is adjusted todisplay an image.

In a display panel of such a liquid crystal display device, an activearea configured to provide an image to a user and a non-active area,which is a peripheral area of the active area, are defined. The displaypanel is usually manufactured by attaching a first substrate, which isan array substrate having a thin film transistor formed therein todefine a pixel area, and a second substrate, which is an upper substratehaving a black matrix and/or color filter layer formed thereon, to eachother.

The array substrate or first substrate, on which a thin film transistoris formed, includes a plurality of gate lines GS extending in a firstdirection and a plurality of data lines DL extending in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction, and one pixel area P isdefined by each gate line and each data line. One or more thin filmtransistors are formed in one pixel area P, and gate and sourceelectrodes of each thin film transistor may be connected to a gate lineand a data line, respectively.

Among these display devices, the liquid crystal display device does nothave its own light-emitting element and thus may need a separate lightsource. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device may have aback-light unit having a light source, such as an LED, which is arrangedat the rear surface thereof and irradiates a light toward a frontsurface of the liquid crystal panel thereof, thereby implementing arecognizable image.

Meanwhile, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device has afast response rate, a high light emitting efficiency, a high luminance,and a wide viewing angle, due to using an OLED, which self-emits light.

In the organic light emitting diode display device, sub-pixels includingorganic light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix form, and thebrightness of sub-pixels selected by a scan signal is controlledaccording to a gray scale of data. Further, the organic light emittingdiode display device, which is an emissive element, consumes littlepower and has a high response speed, a high light emitting efficiency, ahigh luminance, and a wide viewing angle.

Meanwhile, a set apparatus or finished product including such a displaydevice as described above may include, for example, a television (TV), acomputer monitor, or an advertising panel. Such a display device or setapparatus typically includes a sound output device, such as a speaker,for generating and outputting sound relating to output images.

It is typical that a company that manufactures a display device, such asa liquid crystal display device or an organic light emitting diodedisplay device, manufactures only the display panel or display deviceexcluding sound functionality, while another company manufactures aspeaker and assembles the speaker with the manufactured display device,so as to complete a set apparatus capable of outputting images andsound.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a speaker included in a related art displaydevice. As shown in FIG. 1, the related art display device 1 includes aspeaker 2 disposed at a rear part or a lower part of the display panel.In this structure, the sound generated by the speaker 2 does notprogress directly toward a viewer, who is viewing an image from thefront side of the display device 1, but instead progresses toward therear part or the lower part of the display panel rather than a frontpart of the display panel on which the images are being displayed.

Further, when the sound generated from the speaker 2 progresses towardthe rear part or the lower part of the display panel, the sound qualitymay be degraded due to an interference with sound reflected by walls,floors, or other surfaces at the rear of or below the display panel.

Also, the sound generated by a speaker included in the related artdisplay device is not oriented toward a viewer of the display device andmay thus undergo diffraction, which degrades the sound localization.Moreover, in configuring a set apparatus, such as a TV, a speaker mayoccupy an undesirably large amount of space, which imposes a restrictionon the design and space arrangement of the set apparatus.

Therefore, there has been an increasing requirement for technology whichcan improve the quality of sound output from a display device andprevent the viewer's immersion from being disturbed.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to adisplay device that substantially obviates one or more of the problemsdue to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems in therelated art, and an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide apanel vibration type display device that is capable of generating soundby directly vibrating a display panel constituting the display device

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a panel vibrationtype display device that is capable of implementing excellent stereosound by including left and right sound generating actuators disposed atpredetermined left and right positions in a display panel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display panelthat is excellent in implementing left and right stereo sound.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicethat is capable of implementing stereo sound while reducing a dipphenomenon that is a sound quality reduction phenomenon in a mid-highsound range.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicethat is capable of ensuring a stereo sound characteristic, and thedurability and reliability of the sound generating device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicethat is excellent in sound output characteristic in the entire audiblefrequency band.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forthin the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. Theobjectives and other advantages of the disclosure will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts as embodiedand broadly described, a display device may comprise a display panel;sound generating actuators including a first sound generating actuatorin a first area of the display panel and a second sound generatingactuator in a second area of the display panel, the first and secondsound generating actuators configured to vibrate the display panel togenerate sound; and a partition between the first sound generatingactuator and the second sound generating actuator.

Furthermore, a display device may comprise a display panel; soundgenerating actuators in a first area of the display panel and a secondarea of the display panel, the sound generating actuators configured tovibrate the display panel to generate sound, wherein at least one of thefirst and second areas includes two or more sound generating actuators;and a partition between the first and second areas.

Furthermore, a display device may comprise a display panel; soundgenerating actuators in a first area of the display panel and a secondarea of the display panel, the sound generating actuators configured tovibrate the display panel to generate sound; and a speaker outside thefirst area and the second area.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the inventive concepts asclaimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of thedisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a speaker included in a related art displaydevice;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views of a display device including apanel vibration type sound generator according to an example embodimentof the present disclosure, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2Bis a cross-sectional view;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of two types of soundgenerating actuators, each of which may be used as a left or right soundgenerating actuator of an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate states in which the left or right soundgenerating actuator according to an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure vibrates a display panel to generate sound;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of a coupled state between a leftor right sound generating actuator according to an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure and a cover bottom which is a rear support unitof a display device;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate other example embodiments for the couplingstructure between the left or right sound generating actuator and thecover bottom;

FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate an example of a baffle portion formed betweena display panel and a support structure of the display panel in order toform a first air gap space AG1 and a second air gap space AG2 for soundtransmission between the display panel as a vibration plate and a coverbottom;

FIG. 8A illustrates a position of the left or right sound generatingactuator according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure,and FIGS. 8B to 8E illustrate sound generating characteristics accordingto the position of the left or right sound generating actuator;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an example in which the left and right soundgenerating actuators are arranged asymmetrically in a first air gapspace AG1 and a second air gap space AG2;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the left and right soundgenerating actuators according to an example embodiment are arrangedhorizontally and/or vertically symmetrically in the first air gap spaceAG1 and the second air gap space AG2;

FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate a detailed configuration of a soundseparation partition portion according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a sound separation partition portion havinga triple wall structure as an example embodiment of the sound separationpartition portion;

FIG. 13 illustrates sound generating characteristics in the case ofusing the example of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a structure further including a low soundspeaker disposed outside the first air gap space AG1 and the second airgap space AG2, in addition to the sound generating actuator structureaccording to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 15 illustrates sound generating characteristics when the exampleembodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B is used, in which a sound characteristiccurve obtained by the low sound speaker, a sound characteristic curveobtained by the sound generating actuator, and a phenomenon in which thetwo characteristic curves intersect at an intersection P areillustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrativedrawings. In designating elements of the drawings by reference numerals,the same elements will be designated by the same reference numeralsalthough they are shown in different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the present disclosure, a detailed explanation of certainfunctions and configurations incorporated herein may have been omittedmerely for the sake of brevity.

In addition, terms, such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the likemay be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure.Each of these terminologies is not used to define an essence, order orsequence of a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish thecorresponding component from other component(s). In the case that it isdescribed that a certain structural element “is connected to”, “iscoupled to”, or “is in contact with” another structural element, itshould be interpreted that another structural element may “be connectedto”, “be coupled to”, or “be in contact with” the structural elements aswell as that the certain structural element is directly connected to oris in direct contact with another structural element.

The term “display device” used herein is used as a concept covering notonly a display device in the narrow sense, such as a liquid crystalmodule (LCM) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) module thatincludes a display panel and a driving unit for driving the displaypanel, but also a set electronic device or a set device or a setapparatus, such as a notebook computer, a TV, a computer monitor,equipment display (e.g., display equipment in an automotive display orother type of vehicle display), or a mobile electronic device (e.g., asmart phone or an electronic pad, etc.) that is a complete product or afinal product including the LCM, the OLED module, or the like.

That is, the term “display device” used herein is used in the sense ofincluding not only a display device itself, such as an LCM or an OLEDmodule in the narrow sense, but also includes a so-called “set device”which is an application product or final consumer device having adisplay device implemented therein.

However, in some cases, an LCM or an OLED module, which is constitutedwith a display panel, a drive unit of the display panel, and the like,may be referred to as a “display device” in the narrow sense, and anelectronic device as a complete product or a final product includingsuch an LCM or OLED module may be referred to as a “set device” or a“set apparatus” to be distinguished from the display device. Forexample, the display device in the narrow sense may include a liquidcrystal display (LCD) panel or OLED display panel and a source PCB thatis a control unit for driving the display panel, and the term “setdevice” or “set apparatus” may further include a set PCB that is a setcontrol unit electrically connected to a source PCB so as to control theentire set device or entire set apparatus.

The display panel used in the present embodiments may be any type ofdisplay panel, such as an LCD panel, an OLED display panel, etc.,without being limited to a specific display panel technology, as long asthe display panel is capable of sound waves or audible outputs due tovibrations created by a sound generating actuator (e.g., soundgenerating actuator 200).

For example, if the display panel is an LCD panel, the display panel mayinclude an array substrate including a plurality of gate lines, aplurality of data lines, a plurality of pixels at or near theintersection areas of the gate lines and the data lines, and thin filmtransistors as switching elements configured to adjust lighttransmittance at each pixel, an upper substrate including a color filterlayer and/or a black matrix or the like, and a liquid crystal layerformed between the array substrate and the upper substrate.

Also, if the display panel is an OLED display panel, the display panelmay include an array substrate including a plurality of gate lines, aplurality of data lines, a plurality of pixels at or near intersectionareas of the gate lines and the data lines, and thin film transistorsconfigured to selectively apply voltage or current to each of thepixels, an OLED layer on the array substrate; and a sealed substrate oran encapsulation substrate disposed on the array substrate to cover theOLED layer. The sealed substrate protects the thin film transistors, theOLED layer, and the like from external impact, and preventsmoisture/oxygen from penetrating into the OLED layer. The layer on thearray sub state may include an inorganic light emitting layer(s), forexample, quantum dot layer(s), nano-sized material layer(s), etc., thatmay enhance output image quality.

With any display type, the display panel may further include a backing,such as a metal plate attached thereto. Other structures may also beincluded.

The display panel having the actuators described in the specificationmay be implemented at a user interface module in a vehicle, such as atthe central control panel area in an automobile. For example, such adisplay panel can be configured between two front seat occupants suchthat sounds due to vibrations of the display panel propagate towards theinterior of the vehicle. As such, the audio experience within a vehiclecan be improved when compared to having speakers only at the interiorsides in the vehicle.

The display panel used in the display device according to the describedembodiments is not limited in its shape, size type, etc. An LCD panelincludes a number of laminated layers and includes a separate lightsource, such as a backlight.

On the other hand, an organic light emitting diode of the OLED displaypanel corresponds to a self-light emitting device, and thus does notrequire a separate light source, and various layers, such as apolarization layer (POL), a glass layer, and an encapsulation layer, maybe laminated as a single panel.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views of a display device including a panelvibration type sound generator according to an example embodiment. FIG.2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A takenalong line I-I′.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display device according to anexample embodiment includes a display panel 100 configured to display animage, and sound generating actuators 200 and 200′ configured to come incontact with one surface of the display panel and vibrate the displaypanel, thereby generating sound.

The sound generating actuators include a left sound generating actuator200 disposed in some portion of a left part of the display panel, aright sound generating actuator 200′ disposed in some portion of a rightpart of the display panel, and a sound separation partition portion 600disposed as a member for separating the left and right sound generatingactuators 200 and 200′.

The sound separation partition portion 600 is a partition structure or apartition wall structure extending in the vertical direction or the upand down direction of the display panel (when considered in a normalviewing orientation), and disposed between the display panel 100 and acover bottom 300 that serves as a rear support portion. The soundseparation partition portion 600 may be provided to separate the soundgenerated from the left sound generating actuator 200 and the soundgenerated from the right sound generating actuator 200′ from each other,in order to prevent the sound characteristics from being deteriorateddue to the interference of the two sounds.

The sound separation partition portion 600 may be formed of a foam pad,a one-sided tape, a double-sided tape, or from some other appropriatematerial, and may be bonded to at least the upper surface of the coverbottom. Also, it may be in contact with the lower surface of the displaypanel in an adhesive manner or non-adhesive manner.

In order to maintain the low sound emission characteristics togetherwith the sound separation function of the stereo sounds, the soundseparation partition portion 600 may be in contact with the lowersurface of the display panel in a non-adhesion manner, and the height ofthe sound separation partition portion 600 may be equal to or largerthan the distance between the display panel 100 and the cover bottom300, e.g., the width of the first or second air gap space 700 or 700′.

The detailed configuration of the example sound separation partitionportion 600 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.11A to 11C.

Meanwhile, in order to reduce a dip phenomenon that is a sound pressurereduction phenomenon in a mid-high sound range, the distance d betweenthe sound separation partition portion and the left sound generatingactuator or the right sound generating actuator may be adjusted to 200mm or less, which will be described in more detail below with referenceto FIGS. 8A to 8E.

As described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B andthe like, the example left sound generating actuator 200 and the rightsound generating actuator 200′ each include a magnet, a plate forsupporting the magnet, a center pole protruding from a central area ofthe plate, and a bobbin disposed to surround the periphery of the centerpole and wound with a coil to which a current for generating sound isapplied. A tip end of the bobbin is disposed to come in contact with onesurface of the display panel.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the display device may include a supportportion that supports at least one of a rear surface and a side surfaceof the display panel, and the plate of the sound generating actuator isfixed to the support structure.

Meanwhile, because the left sound generating actuator 200 and the rightsound generating actuator 200′ may have the same structure, one of theleft sound generating actuator 200 and the right sound generatingactuator 200′ will be representatively referred to as a “soundgenerating actuator” in the following description.

The rear support portion includes the cover bottom 300 disposed at therear side of the display panel, and may further include a middle cabinet500 coupled to the cover bottom while enclosing the side surface of thedisplay panel and accommodating and supporting one side edge of thedisplay panel.

The cover bottom 300 constituting the rear support portion may be aplate-shaped member formed of a metal or plastic that extends over theentire rear side of the display device.

Meanwhile, the cover bottom 300 used herein is not limited by the term,but may be referred to as other terms (e.g., a plate bottom, a backcover, a base frame, a metal frame, a metal chassis, a chassis base, andan m-chassis). The term “cover bottom” shall be understood as a conceptincluding any type of a frame or a plate-shaped structure disposed onthe rear base of the display device as a support for supporting thedisplay panel.

Also, the display device according to the example embodiment may furtherinclude a baffle portion 400 disposed between the cover bottom 300 as asupport portion for the middle cabinet 500 and the display panel so asto form a first air gap space 700 (AG1) and a second air gap space 700′(AG2), which are spaces for transmitting a generated sound wave.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the baffle portion 400 is formedas a four-sided sealing structure between the display panel 100 and thecover bottom 300. By the baffle portion 400 and the sound separationpartition portion 600, a first air gap space 700 is formed around thesound generating actuator 200, and a second air gap space 700′ is formedaround the right sound generating actuator 200′.

The first air gap space 700 (AG1) and the second air gap space 700′(AG2) function as a closed space in which sound is generated when thedisplay panel 100 is vibrated by the left sound generating actuator 200or right sound generating actuator 200′.

In this case, the left sound generating actuator 200 and the right soundgenerating actuator 200′ may be disposed in the first air gap space 700(AG1) and the second air gap space 700′ (AG2), respectively, atpositions that are horizontally and/or vertically symmetrical with eachother so that stereo sound characteristics and the durability andreliability of the sound generating device can be ensured. Such aconfiguration will be described in more detail below with reference toFIGS. 9A and 9B.

The baffle portion 400 may include an adhesive member disposed at anedge of the cover bottom 300 or the middle cabinet 500 to be bonded tothe lower surface of the display panel, and a sealing portion disposedoutside the adhesive member to further provide a sealing property of thefirst air gap space 700 and a second air gap space 700′.

In this case, the adhesive member may be a double-sided tape. Asdescribed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, theheight of the sealing portion may be larger than the height of theadhesive member.

The detailed structure of such a baffle portion will be described indetail below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of two types of soundgenerating actuators, each of which may be used as a left or right soundgenerating actuator of the present disclosure.

The left and right sound generating actuators 200 or 200′ used in theexample embodiment may each include a magnet 220 as a permanent magnet,plates 210 and 210′ configured to support the magnet 220, a center pole230 protruding from a central area of the plate 210, a bobbin 250arranged to surround the center pole 230, and a coil 260 wound aroundthe outer periphery of the bobbin 250 and applied with a current forgenerating sound. However, such detailed structure is merely exemplary,as various other equivalent components can be used to implement theactuators used for the embodiments of the present disclosure.

For example, the sound generating actuator used in the exampleembodiment may include both of a first structure in which the magnet isdisposed outside the coil and a second structure in which the magnet isdisposed inside the coil.

The example of FIG. 3A illustrates the first structure in which themagnet is disposed outside the coil, in which the first structure may bereferred to as a dynamic type or an external magnet type.

In a sound generating actuator 200 according to the first structure, thelower plate 210 is fixed to a support hole 310 formed in the coverbottom 300, and the magnet 220, which is an annular permanent magnet, isdisposed around the outer portion of the lower plate 210.

An upper plate 210′ is disposed above the magnet 220, and an outer frame240 formed to protrude from the upper plate 210′ is disposed on theouter periphery of the upper plate 210′.

The center pole 230 protrudes from the central area of the lower plate210 and the bobbin 250 is disposed to surround the center pole 230.

The coil 260 is wound around the lower portion of the bobbin 250, and acurrent for generating sound is applied to the coil.

Meanwhile, a damper 270 may be disposed between a part of the upperportion of the bobbin 250 and the outer frame 240.

The lower plate 210 and the upper plate 210′ may be configured to fixthe sound generating actuator 200 to the cover bottom 300 whilesupporting the magnet 220. As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower plate 210 isprovided in a circular shape, the ring-shaped magnet 220 is provided onthe lower plate 210, and the upper plate 210′ is provided on the magnet220.

And, as the lower plate 210 and the upper plate 210′ are coupled to thecover bottom 300, the magnet 220 positioned between the lower plate 210and the upper plate 210′ may be fixedly supported.

The plates 210 and 210′ may be formed of a magnetic material, such asiron (Fe). The plate is not limited by the term, but may be expressed byother terms, such as a yoke.

Meanwhile, the center pole 230 and the lower plate 210 may be integrallyformed.

The bobbin 250 is an annular structure formed of paper, an aluminumsheet, or the like, and the coil 260 is wound around a predeterminedlower portion of the bobbin 250. The bobbin 250 and the coil 260 may becollectively referred to as a voice coil.

When a current is applied to the coil 260, a magnetic field is formedaround the coil 260, and since there is an external magnetic fieldformed by the magnet 220, the entire bobbin 250 moves upward while beingguided by the center pole 230 according to Fleming's Law.

On the other hand, since the tip end portion of the bobbin 250 is incontact with the rear surface of the display panel 100, the displaypanel 100 is vibrated according to the current application ornon-application state, and a sound wave is generated due to thevibration.

As the magnet 220, a sintered magnet, such as barium ferrite or thelike, may be used, and as the material thereof, an alloy casting magnetof ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃), barium carbonate (BaCO₃), strontium ferritewith an improved magnetic component, aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), andcobalt (Co), or the like may be used, but embodiments are not limitedthereto.

A damper 270 is disposed between a part of the upper portion of thebobbin 250 and the outer frame 240. The damper 270 is provided in acorrugated structure to shrink and relax in accordance with the upwardand downward movements of the bobbin 250 so as to adjust the verticalvibration of the bobbin 250. That is, since the damper 270 is connectedto each of the bobbin 250 and the outer frame 240, the verticalvibration of the bobbin 250 is limited by the restoring force of thedamper 270. In more detail, when the bobbin 250 is vibrated to anupwardly predetermined height or higher or to a downwardly predeterminedheight or lower, the bobbin 250 can be returned to its original positiondue to the restoring force of the damper 270. Such a damper 270 may beexpressed by any other term, such as an edge.

Meanwhile, FIG. 3B illustrates the second structure in which the magnetis disposed inside the coil, in which the second structure may bereferred to as a micro type or an internal magnet type.

In the sound generating actuator 200 according to the second structure,a lower plate 210 is fixed to a support hole 310 formed in a coverbottom 300, a magnet 220 is disposed in the central area of the lowerplate 210, and a center pole 230 is formed to protrude above the magnet220.

An upper plate 210′ protrudes from the outer periphery of the lowerplate 210, and the outer frame 240 is disposed on the outer portion ofthe upper plate 210′.

A bobbin 250 is disposed to surround the periphery of the magnet 220 andthe center pole 230, and a coil 260 is wound around the outer peripheryof the bobbin 250. Also, a damper 270 is disposed between an outer frame240 and the bobbin 250.

In the second type sound generating actuator 200, fewer leakage magneticfluxes may be generated and the overall size may be made small ascompared to the first type sound generating actuator in which the magnetis disposed on the outside.

In the example embodiment, both the first type sound generating actuatorand the second type sound generating actuator can be used, and for theconvenience of description, the first type sound generating actuatorwill be representatively described below.

Also, the sound generating actuator used in the display device accordingto the example embodiment is not limited to the types illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. A sound generating actuator of any other type may beused as long as the sound generating actuator can vibrate the displaypanel up and down according to the application of a current to generatesound.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate states in which the left or right soundgenerating actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosurevibrates a display panel to generate sound.

With reference to FIG. 4A, in a state in which a current is applied, thecenter pole 230 connected to the lower surface of the magnet 220 becomesan N pole and the upper plate 210′ connected to the upper surface of themagnet 220 becomes the S pole so that an external magnetic field isformed between the coil 260.

In this state, when a current for generating sound is applied to thecoil 260, an applied magnetic field is generated around the coil 260,and a force for moving the bobbin 250 upward is generated due to theapplied magnetic field and the external magnetic field.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the bobbin moves upward (arrowdirection) and the display panel 100, which is in contact with the tipend of the bobbin 250, vibrates upward.

In this state, when the application of the current is stopped or acurrent in the opposite direction is applied, a force for moving thebobbin 250 downward is generated according to a similar principle asillustrated in FIG. 4B, and as a result, the display panel 100 vibratesdownward (arrow direction).

In this manner, the display panel vibrates upward and downward accordingto the current application direction to the coil and the magnitude ofthe current, and a sound wave is generated by the vibration.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of a coupled state between a leftor right sound generating actuator according to an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure and a cover bottom, which is a rear support unitof a display device.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate other embodiments for the coupling structurebetween a sound generating actuator and a cover bottom.

Hereinafter, one of the left and right sound generating actuators 200and 200′ having the same structure will be representatively described asa sound generating actuator. The same description can be applied to theother sound generating actuator.

The sound generating actuator 200 according to the present embodimentcan be supported through a support hole formed in the cover bottom orthe back cover which is a support structure of the display device, andFIGS. 5A and 5B and FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate various supportstructures.

In the support structure of FIGS. 5A and 5B, a support hole 310 isformed through the cover bottom 300, and at least one of the lower plate210, the magnet 220, and the upper plate 210′ of the sound generatingactuator 200 is inserted into and accommodated in the support hole 310.

Extension portions 212 are further formed on the lower surface of thelower plate 210 to extend to the outside of the lower plate 210. Theextension portion 212 are fixed to the lower surface of the cover bottom300 so as to mount the sound generating actuator 200 on the cover bottom300.

As described above, when the sound generating actuator 200 is fixed tobe inserted into the support hole 310 formed in the cover bottom 300,the distance between the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 canbe reduced, so that the thickness of the display device can be reduced.

That is, between the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300, a firstair gap space or a first space and a second air gap space or a secondspace, which are the spaces through which the display panel 100 can bevibrated, may be present. In a case where the sound generating actuator200 is configured to be inserted into and fixed to the support hole 310of the cover bottom 300, the air gap can be reduced because the heightof the sound generating actuator 200 disposed between the rear surfaceof the display panel 100 and the inner surface of the cover bottom 300can be reduced.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the method in which screw holes may be formedin the rear surface of the cover bottom 300 and bolts 320 or screws arefastened through the through holes formed in the extension portion 212of the lower plate 210, thereby fixing the sound generating actuator 200to the cover bottom 300.

Meanwhile, FIG. 6A does not illustrate a simple screw coupling type, buta type in which, e.g., PEM® nuts 330 or self-clinching nuts, which cansecure a predetermined distance between the cover bottom 300 and theextension portions 212 of the lower plate 210, are disposed and fixedwith the bolts 320.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the PEM® nuts 330 or the self-clinching nutsare used, a predetermined space is secured between the sound generatingactuator 200 and the cover bottom 300, so that it is possible to reducethe transmission of the vibration of the actuator 200 to the coverbottom 300.

Also, in FIG. 6B, an adhesive member, such as a double-sided tape, isdisposed between the extension portion 212 of the lower plate 210 of thesound generating actuator 200 and the cover bottom 300, thereby fixedlybonding the sound generating actuator 200 and the cover bottom 300 toeach other.

When the adhesive member is used as shown in FIG. 6B, the adhesivemember may act as a kind of a damper when the elasticity and thethickness of the adhesive member are appropriately adjusted, so that thetransmission of the vibration of the actuator to the cover bottom can bereduced.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, by adopting a method of fixedlyinserting the sound generating actuator 200—which comes in contact withthe display panel 100 so as to directly vibrate the display panel100—into the support hole 310 formed in the cover bottom 300, it may bepossible to reduce the thickness of the display device compared to acase where the actuator is completely accommodated in the inside of thedisplay device.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a baffle portion formed betweena display panel and a middle cabinet, which is one of the supportstructures of the display panel, in order to form a first air gap space700 and a second air gap space 700′ between the display panel as avibration plate and the cover bottom.

Of course, the baffle portion to be described below does not necessarilyhave to be formed between the middle cabinet and the display panel. Whenthe baffle portion is formed inside the outer periphery of the displaydevice as shown in FIG. 10, the baffle portion may be disposed betweenthe display panel and the cover bottom.

As shown in FIG. 7A, in a panel vibration type sound generating deviceaccording to the example embodiment, it may be necessary to secure asecond air gap space 700′, which allows the display panel to be vibratedtherein by the right sound generating actuator 200′, between the displaypanel 100 and the support structure (e.g., cover bottom 300).

That is, one side of the display panel 100 may be bonded to the supportstructure of the display panel 100 so that a sound wave can be generatedwhen the display panel 100 is vibrated, and in an example, the generatedsound may not leak to the outside through a side surface or the like ofthe display device. Thus, for this purpose, the display device accordingto the example embodiment provides a constant baffle portion 400 betweenthe lower surface of the display panel and the support structure.

For example, a predetermined area (e.g., an air gap space) is definedaround the sound generating actuator, and at the edge of the area, thebaffle portion is disposed between the lower surface of the displaypanel and the upper surface of the middle cabinet or the cover bottom.

In this case, the baffle portion 400 includes an adhesive member 412,such as a double-sided tape bonded between the lower surface of thedisplay panel 100 and the upper surface of the support structure of thedisplay device, and a sealing portion 414 is further disposed on theouter periphery of the adhesive member 412.

In this case, the area in which the baffle portion is formed may be theentire display panel area defined by the four peripheral edges of thedisplay panel, but it is not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 10and the like, the area may be defined as an area having four sidesinside the outer periphery of the display panel.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the support structure of the displaydevice may further include a middle cabinet 500 coupled to the coverbottom 300 and configured to seat a part of the display panel therein,in addition to the cover bottom 300 that covers the entire rear surfaceof the display panel.

According to the example embodiment, the middle cabinet 500 is aframe-shaped member formed along the periphery of the display panel 100,and includes a horizontal support portion 502 on which a part of thedisplay panel 100 is seated, and a vertical support portion 504 that isbent to the opposite sides to cover a side surface of the cover bottom300 and a side surface of the display panel 100, so that the middlecabinet 500 may generally have a T-shaped cross section.

The middle cabinet 500 constitutes the side external part of the displaydevice or the set device. In some cases, the middle cabinet 500 may notbe used or may be integrally formed with the cover bottom 300.

According to the example embodiment of FIGS. 7A to 7C, the adhesivemember 412 constituting the baffle portion 400 is a double-sided tapedisposed between the upper surface of the horizontal support portion 502of the middle cabinet 500 and the display panel 100, and serves tofixedly bond the lower surface of the display panel 100 to the middlecabinet 500.

A sealing portion 414 constituting the baffle portion may be furtherdisposed on the outer periphery of the adhesive member 412, and has athickness or height greater than the thickness or height of the adhesivemember 412.

The sealing portion 414 may be formed of a material, such as rubberhaving high elasticity, and has a thickness t2 that is larger than thethickness t1 of the adhesive member 412, as illustrated in FIG. 7B.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, one side of the adhesive member 412,which is a double-sided tape having a thickness t1, is bonded to bedisposed on the inner portion of the upper surface of the horizontalsupport portion 502 of the middle cabinet 500, and a sealing portion 414formed of an elastic material and having a thickness larger than t1 isdisposed outside the periphery of the adhesive member 412.

In this state, when the display panel 100 is attached to the otherbonding surface of the adhesive member 412, the sealing portion 414having the larger thickness is pressed to a certain degree, so that thedisplay panel 100 and the middle cabinet 500 are bonded to each other(FIG. 7C). Accordingly, the sealing property of the second air gap space700′ (AG2) around the sound generating actuator 200 can be furtherimproved.

By coupling the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 with eachother while forming the second air gap space 700′ (AG2) by the thicknessof the horizontal support portion 502 of the middle cabinet 500 and theadhesive member 412 as illustrated in FIG. 7C, it may be possible tosecure a vibration space in which the display panel 100 can generatesound and to prevent the sound waves generated in the vibration spacefrom flowing out to the outside along the side surface of the displaydevice.

Also, by forming the baffle portion 400 disposed at the edge of the airgap space in a double wall structure of the adhesive member 412 and thesealing portion 414, and forming the sealing portion to have a largerthickness, the sealing property of the air gap space can be furtherimproved so that the leakage of sound can be further blocked.

It should be understood that the middle cabinet 500 herein may beexpressed by other expressions, such as a guide panel, a plasticchassis, a p-chassis, a support main, a main support, and a mold frame,and is a rectangular frame-shaped structure of a sectional shape havinga plurality of bent portions and including all types of membersconnected to the cover bottom to be used for supporting the displaypanel and the baffle portion.

The middle cabinet 500 may be formed of a molding material of asynthetic resin, such as polycarbonate, and may be manufactured throughan injection molding method, but is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, although the middle cabinet may be used to support a gapbetween the cover bottom and the display panel, the middle cabinet maynot be a necessary structure.

For example, when the display device has a support structure of only acover bottom or a back cover without a middle cabinet, or when the firstor second air gap space is defined in an inner partial area of thedisplay device as illustrated in FIG. 10, the baffle portion describedabove with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C may be disposed between the uppersurface of the cover bottom and the lower surface of the display panel.

In this case, the adhesive member 412 in the form of a double-sided tapemay be disposed on a part of the upper surface of the cover bottom 300,and the sealing portion 414 having a thickness larger than the thicknessof the adhesive member 412 may be disposed outside the adhesive member412.

In this state, when the display panel 100 is coupled with the coverbottom 300, the sealing portion 414 is squeezed such that the sealing ofthe second air gap space 700′ for sound transmission can be ensured.

With the example embodiment of FIGS. 8A to 8E, an intermediate supportstructure, such as a middle cabinet, may be omitted to simplify thestructure. By forming the baffle portion 400 disposed at the edge of theair gap space to have a double wall structure of the adhesive member 412and the sealing portion 414 and forming the sealing portion to have alarger thickness, it may be possible to secure a vibration space inwhich the display panel can generate sound, and to prevent the soundwaves generated inside the vibration space from being leaked to theoutside along the side surface of the display device.

In the example embodiment, the thickness of the air gap space, that is,the distance T between the display panel and the cover bottom in the airgap space, may be set to about 0.8 to 2.5 mm, but may be adjusted to adifferent range according to the vibration degree of the display panelwithout being limited thereto.

FIG. 8A illustrates a position of the left or right sound generatingactuator according to the example embodiment, and FIGS. 8B to 8Eillustrate sound generating characteristics according to the position ofthe left or right sound generating actuator.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8A, the left soundgenerating actuator 200 and the right sound generating actuator 200′ arespaced apart from the central sound separation partition portion 600 toleft and right by a distance d, respectively.

In this case, the larger the distance d between the left or right soundgenerating actuator and the sound separating partition portion, thebetter the stereo sound characteristics.

That is, as the distance d between the left and right sound generatingactuators is increased, the left and right separation of the soundgenerated by the both actuators can be ensured, so that the stereocharacteristic can be improved.

However, when the distance d between the two actuators is increased, andwhen the sound generating current or voltage signals applied to the twoactuators in order to implement stereo sound are different from eachother, the sound waves generated by the two actuators interfere witheach other, so that a phenomenon occurs in which a sound output (soundpressure) may be reduced in a specific frequency band.

For example, it has been confirmed that an abrupt sound pressurereduction phenomenon occurs at a mid-high sound range of 10 kHz or moreaccording to the separation distance d between the left or right soundgenerating actuator and the sound separation partition portion. Thesound pressure reduction phenomenon at a mid-high sound range may bereferred to as a dip phenomenon, but is not limited thereto.

As a result of a test, it has been confirmed that, with reference toabout 400 mm regardless of the left and right length of the displaypanel, when the distance 2d between the left and right sound generatingactuators (e.g., the distance d between the sound separation partitionportion and the two actuators is about 200 mm) is increased over 400 mmas the two actuators are spaced farther away from each other, the dipphenomenon becomes severe to such an extent that the dip phenomenoncannot be corrected, which will be described in more detail below.

FIGS. 8B to 8E illustrate test results obtained by measuring a soundoutput amount (sound pressure) in each frequency band based on theoutput of 1 watt (W) at a position 1 m ahead for each case where thedistance d between each of the left and right sound generating actuatorsand the central sound separation partition portion is 70 mm, 150 mm, 200mm, and 250 mm, respectively.

As a method for measuring a sound pressure in a specific frequency band,it is possible to define a sound pressure level (SPL) typically at about200 Hz to 500 Hz as a reference sound pressure, and then to determinewhether a sound pressure measured in a specific frequency band isdifferent from the reference sound pressure.

In the test represented in FIGS. 8B to 8E, the above-described methodwas also used in order to measure a sound pressure at each frequencyband of the sound generating device according to the example embodiment.The reference sound pressure, which is an average sound pressure atabout 200 Hz to 500 Hz, was measured to be about 74 dB to 75 dB, andbased on this, it was measured how much the average sound pressure at amid-high sound range, especially at 15 kHz, is reduced from thereference sound pressure. In FIGS. 8B to 8E, each solid line representsan actually measured sound pressure and each dotted line represent anaverage value (intermediate value). Because the high sound range that isaudible by an ordinary human is 15 kHz or less, an average soundpressure at 15 kHz was measured at the test represented in FIGS. 8B to8E.

In general, when the average output sound pressure at a specificfrequency band is within ±10 dB of the reference sound pressure, it maybe corrected by a software-based amplifier tuning like an equalizer.However, when the average output sound pressure exceeds ±10 dB comparedto the reference sound pressure, the sound output characteristic getsworse because it may be difficult or impossible to correct the averageoutput sound pressure.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the distance d between each of the leftand right sound generating actuators 200 and 200′ and the central soundseparation partition portion 600 is 70 mm, it can be seen that theaverage output sound pressure at 15 kHz, which is the highest in theaudible frequency band, is about 68 dB, which is within the range of 10dB or less than about 74 dB to 75 dB, and thus is within the correctableor calibratable range.

Similarly, as illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8D, even when the distance dbetween each of the actuators 200 and 200′ and the central soundseparation partition portion 600 is 150 mm or 200 mm, it can be seenthat the average output sound pressure at 15 kHz is about 66 dB or about64 dB, which is within a range of about 10 dB or less than about 74 dBto 75 dB (which is the reference sound pressure), and thus is within thecorrectable or calibratable range.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 8E, when the distance dbetween each of the actuators 200 and 200′ and the central soundseparation partition portion 600 is 250 mm, it can be seen that theaverage output sound pressure at 15 kHz becomes about 60 dB or less, andis lower than the reference sound pressure by 10 dB or more, which maybe a non-correctable state or a non-calibratable state.

For example, with reference to a case where the distance d between eachof the actuators 200 and 200′ and the central sound separation partitionportion 600 is 200 mm, when the separation distance d is 200 mm or more,a phenomenon occurred in which the average output sound pressure at 15kHz was reduced by 10 dB or more compared to the reference soundpressure.

Therefore, in the example embodiment, in order to maintain the soundpressure reduction phenomenon in the mid-high sound range within acorrectable extent, the distance d between the left sound generatingactuator 200 or the right sound generating actuator 200′ and the soundseparation partition portion 600 may be adjusted to 200 mm or less.

Meanwhile, as the distance between the two sound generating actuatorsbecomes closer to each other, a stereo sound characteristic obtained bythe left and right sound separation may be deteriorated. Therefore, inorder to maintain the stereo sound characteristic above a predeterminedlevel, the distance 2d between the two sound generating actuators may beadjusted to about 200 mm or more.

As a result, in the example embodiment, by adjusting the distance dbetween the left sound generating actuator 200 or the right soundgenerating actuator 200′ and the sound separation partition portion 600to about 100 mm or more and about 200 mm or less, it may be possible tomaintain the dip phenomenon, which is the sound pressure reductionphenomenon in the mid-high sound range, within a correctable level whilemaintaining the stereo sound characteristic at a predetermined or higherlevel.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an example in which the left and right soundgenerating actuators are arranged asymmetrically in a first air gapspace AG1 and a second air gap space AG2.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8E, when the distance2d between the two sound generating actuators is set to about 400 mm orless in order to reduce the dip phenomenon in a mid-high sound range,the positions of the left sound generating actuator 200 and the rightsound generating actuator 200′ in the first air gap space AG1 and thesecond air gap space AG2 may be determined asymmetrically according tothe left and right length (i.e., the horizontal length) of the displaypanel.

For example, when the left and right length (e.g., the horizontallength) of the display panel is 800 mm or less, the distance d betweenthe sound separation partition portion 600 and the left or right soundgenerating actuators 200 and 200′ may be properly adjusted in a range of200 mm or less, the left sound generating actuator 200 and the rightsound generating actuator 200′ may be disposed at the centers, inreference to the left and right direction, within the first air gapspace AG1 and the second air gap space AG2, respectively.

However, in recent years, the sizes of display panels have been enlargedso that the display panels often have the left and right length (e.g.,the horizontal length) of 1000 mm or more. In this case, when thedistance d between the left sound generating actuator 200 or the rightsound generating actuator 200′ and the sound separation partitionportion 600 is set to about 200 mm or less, it may be inevitable thatthe distance d between each of the sound generating actuators and thesound separation partition portion and the distance d′ between each ofthe sound generating actuators and the vertical sides of both sides ofthe baffle portion have different values.

That is, the left sound generating actuator 200 is disposed at aposition biased to the right side rather than at the horizontal centralposition in the first air gap space 700. Similarly, the right soundgenerating actuator 200′ is disposed at a position shifted to the leftside, rather than at the horizontal central position in the second airgap space 700′.

When the left sound generating actuator 200 and the right soundgenerating actuator 200′ are disposed at the horizontally non-centralpositions in the first air gap space AG1 and the second air gap spaceAG2, respectively, unbalanced vibration of the display panel may begenerated within each of the air gap spaces so that the soundcharacteristic may be deteriorated, and the durability or reliability ofthe display device may also be deteriorated.

That is, when each of the actuators is disposed at one side in each airgap space, unbalanced vibration may be generated, in which theunbalanced vibration uses a point shifted to one side as the vibrationcenter, rather than using the center of the display panel area includedin each air gap space as the vibration center.

According to such unbalanced vibration, the vibration amount varies fromposition to position in the display panel area included in the air gapspace, so that the sound output characteristic may be deteriorated.Further, when the unbalanced vibration is continued for a long time, thedurability or reliability of the display panel may be deteriorated.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the left and right soundgenerating actuators according to the example embodiment are arrangedhorizontally and/or vertically symmetrically in the first air gap spaceAG1 and the second air gap space AG2.

In order to solve the drawbacks described with reference to FIGS. 9A and9B, in the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the baffle portion1400 may be disposed inside the outer periphery of the display panel 100such that the left and right sound generating actuators 200 and 200′ maybe disposed at horizontally (left and right) and/or vertically (up anddown) symmetrical positions in the first air gap space 800 and thesecond air gap space 800′.

In more detail, in order to form the sealed first and second air gapspaces 800 (AG1) and 800′ (AG2) around the left sound generatingactuator 200 and the right sound generating actuator 200′ together withthe sound separation partition portion 600 described above, the baffleportion 1400 is disposed to surround the left sound generating actuator200 or the right sound generating actuator 200′ such that the left soundgenerating actuator 200 is disposed at the center of the left and right(horizontal) length as well as the vertical (up and down) length of thefirst air gap space 800 (AG1), while the right sound generating actuator200′ is disposed at the center of the left and right length as well asthe vertical length of the second air gap space 800′ (AG2).

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the left sound generating actuator200 is disposed such that the left and right (horizontal) distances d ofthe left sound generating actuator 200 from the left vertical side ofthe baffle portion 1400 and the sound separation partition portion 600are equal to each other, and the vertical (up and down) distances h ofthe left sound generating actuator 200 from the upper side of the baffleportion 1400 and the lower side are equal to each other.

For this purpose, the baffle portion 1400 may be formed inside the outerperiphery of the display panel 100, unlike the baffle portion 1400 thatis formed along the outer periphery of the display panel 100 asillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B or the like.

As was illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the baffle portion 1400 in thiscase may have a double wall structure that includes an adhesive member412 bonded to the upper surface of the cover bottom 300 and the lowersurface of the display panel 100, and a sealing portion 414 disposedoutside the adhesive member 412, but may be configured only by anadhesive member without being limited thereto.

In this way, by adjusting the positions of the baffle portion 1400 andthe sound separation partition portion 600 such that the left and rightsound generating actuators 200 and 200′ can be disposed at the centralpositions of the first air gap space 800 and the second air gap space800′, it may be possible not only to improve stereo sound implementationcharacteristics, but also to prevent unbalanced vibration to improve thedurability of the display device and the reliability of the soundoutput.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are cross-sectional views taken along line II-II′ inFIG. 10, each illustrating a detailed configuration of the soundseparation partition portion according to the example embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the sound separation partitionportion 600 of the example embodiment extends in the vertical directionin the central area of the display panel in order to function toseparate left sound and right sounds which are respectively generated bythe left and right sound generating actuators.

That is, the sound separation partition portion 600 functions to blockthe sound of each air gap space from being transmitted to the other airgap space by attenuating or absorbing the vibration of the display panel100 in the first air gap space and the second air gap space in thecentral area therebetween.

The sound separation partition portion 600 may be constituted with adouble-sided tape or a single-sided tape formed of polyurethane (PU) orpolyolefin (PO) having a predetermined height (thickness) and width, andmay have elasticity to be compressible to a certain extent. The soundseparation partition portion 600 may be expressed by other terms, suchas a foam pad.

The sound separation partition portion 600 is disposed between the uppersurface of the cover bottom 300 and the lower surface of the displaypanel 100, and is fixedly bonded to at least the upper surface of thecover bottom 300.

Meanwhile, the upper end surface of the sound separation partitionportion 600 may be in contact with the lower surface of the displaypanel 100, but it may be fixedly bonded to the lower surface of thedisplay panel 100 or may be in contact with the lower surface of thedisplay panel 100 without being bonded or adhered thereto.

That is, in the example embodiment of FIG. 11A, the sound separationpartition portion 600 may include a lower adhesive layer 610 bonded tothe upper surface of the cover bottom 300, an upper adhesive layer 610′bonded to the lower surface of the display panel 100, and a partitionlayer 620 disposed between the two adhesive layers 610 and 610′. Thesound separating partition portion 600 may be fixedly bonded to both theupper surface of the cover bottom 300 and the lower surface of thedisplay panel 100.

If the sound separation partition portion 600 is bonded to both thecover bottom 300 and the display panel 100 as illustrated in FIG. 11A,the vibration of both air gap spaces is substantially absorbed so thatthe vibration of one air gap space is not transmitted to the other airgap space, which is advantageous in that the left and right soundseparation characteristic may be excellent.

However, in the structure of FIG. 11A, because the vibrations of thefirst air gap space and the second air gap space are completelyseparated from each other, the size of a vibration plate may be reducedso that the sound pressure in a low sound range can be reduced.

The sound separation partition portion 600 according to the exampleembodiment of FIG. 11B includes only the lower adhesive layer 610 bondedto the upper surface of the cover bottom 300 and the partition layer 620disposed above the lower adhesive layer so that the sound separationpartition portion 600 may be bonded only to the upper surface of thecover bottom 300 and may be in contact with the bottom surface of thedisplay panel 100 in a non-adhesion manner.

That is, the upper end surface of the partition layer 620 of the soundseparation partition portion 600 is in contact with the lower surface ofthe display panel 100, but is not bonded thereto.

According to the example embodiment of FIG. 11B, by making the soundseparation partition portion 600 come in contact with the display panelwithout being bonded thereto, when a weak vibration is generated foroutputting sound of a mid-high sound range, the sound separationpartition portion performs a left and right sound separation function,and when there is a strong vibration in the low sound range, it ispossible to reduce the amount of vibration attenuation to maintain a lowsound characteristic.

That is, according to the example embodiment of FIG. 11B, a soundseparation characteristic may be ensured in the mid-high sound range,and the pressure sound reduction in the low sound range may be reducedby utilizing a vibration plate in the low tone period.

According to the example embodiment of FIG. 11B, when the display panelvibrates weakly for outputting sound of mid-high sound range, the soundseparation partition portion substantially absorbs the vibration andmaintains the left and right sound separation characteristics. When thevibration plate is strongly vibrated for outputting sound of the lowsound range, the sound separation partition portion absorbs only a partof the vibration, so that the entire display panel can be used as avibration plate to maintain a low sound characteristic.

In detail, when the left and right sound generating actuators arevertically vibrated to strongly push the display panel upward foroutputting low sound, the sound separation partition portion and thelower surface of the display panel are temporarily separated from eachother, so that the entire display panel may be used as a vibrationplate, and when the left and right sound generating actuators arevibrated downwardly to return to the original position thereof, thedisplay panel comes into contact with the sound separation partitionportion, so that the downward vibration may be partly suppressed toprevent sound quality degradation due to negative sound distortion orunbalanced vibration.

As illustrated in FIG. 11C, the sound separation partition portion 600may have a height H1 that is larger than a gap T between the displaypanel 100 and the cover bottom 300.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11C, when it is assumed that the gapbetween the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 is T in a statewhere the display panel 100 is coupled to the cover bottom 300, theheight H1 of the sound separation partition portion 600 may be equal toor larger than the gap T between the display panel 100 and the coverbottom 300.

Here, the height H1 of the sound separation partition portion 600 meansthe height before the sound separation partition is mounted between thedisplay panel 100 and the cover bottom 300.

Accordingly, the sound separation partition portion 600 completely fillsthe gap between the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 such thatthe upper end surface of the sound separation partition portion 600comes into contact with the lower surface of the display panel 100, andwhen the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 are assembled toeach other, the sound separation partition portion 600 may be compressedto a certain extent.

As described above, by making the height H1 of the sound separationpartition portion 600 larger than the gap T between the display panel100 and the cover bottom 300, it may be possible to achieve the left andright sound separation function of the sound separation partitionportion 600 as described above.

Meanwhile, when the difference between the height H1 of the soundseparation partition portion 600 and the gap T between the display panel100 and the cover bottom 300 is large, the sound separatingcharacteristic may be improved and the sound distortion may be reduced,but the sound pressure in the low sound range may be somewhatdeteriorated. On the contrary, when there is little difference betweenthe height H1 of the sound separation partition portion 600 and the gapT between the display panel 100 and the cover bottom 300, the reductionof the sound pressure in the low sound range may be reduced, but thesound separation characteristic may be deteriorated.

Accordingly, by appropriately adjusting the height H1 of the soundseparation partition portion 600 with respect to the gap T between thedisplay panel 100 and the cover bottom 300, it is possible to reduce thesound distortion phenomenon and the sound pressure reduction in the lowsound range while maintaining the sound separation characteristic.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 11C, the sound separation partition portion600 has a predetermined width W, which may be determined to be about 8mm to 12 mm. When the width W of the sound separation partition portionis increased, the sound separation characteristic may be improved.Consequently, the sound output amount may be reduced by reducing theright and left vibration width, and when the width W is reduced, therequired sound separation characteristic may not be maintained.

Accordingly, in the example embodiment, by adjusting the width W of thesound separation partition to about 8 mm to 12 mm, it may be possible toreduce the sound pressure reduction while maintaining the soundseparation characteristic.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a sound separation partition portion havinga triple wall structure as another example embodiment of the soundseparation partition portion.

Meanwhile, when a single sound separation partition portion is used forleft and right sound separation as illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11C, thestereo sound characteristic may be improved. However, when a mono soundoutputting the same sound in left and right is implemented, the soundpressure may be drastically reduced at a specific frequency due to leftand right sound interference.

That is, when the mono acoustic is implemented in which the same soundis output from the left and right, because the display panel areas ofthe first air gap space and the second air gap space have the samevibration characteristic, the resonance phenomenon or interferencephenomenon may be maximized in a predetermined frequency band so that aproblem of drastically reducing the sound pressure may occur.

In consideration of this case, in the example embodiment of FIGS. 12Aand 12B, the sound separation partition portion may be configured tohave a triple wall structure that includes a central sound separationpartition portion 640 and left and right sound separating partitionportions 650 and 650′ that are disposed at the left and right sides ofthe central sound separation partition portion 640 with a first distanced1 from the central sound separation partition 640.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, when the sound separation partitionportion is formed in a triple wall structure, the right sound and leftsound interference may be continuously attenuated in a wide area.Therefore, even when the left and right sound interference at a specificfrequency is increased at a specific frequency in implementing monosound, it may be possible to prevent the sudden reduction in the soundpressure, thereby preventing the sound characteristic from beingdiscontinuously recognized. Of course, the sound separation partitionportion is not necessarily limited to the triple wall structure, and maybe a structure including two or more multiple partition parts.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, the left or right soundgenerating actuator 200 or 200′ may be disposed at a position displacedin the left or right direction by d1/2 from the position of the left orright sound generating actuator when a single sound separating partitionportion is used.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, the height H2 of the center soundseparation partition portion 640 may be equal to or larger than theheight H3 of the left sound separation partition portion 650 or theright sound separation partition portion 650′.

With this configuration, when the left and right sound interference issmall, the central sound separation partition portion 640 may mainlyattenuates the interference, and when the left and right soundinterference is increased so that the interference vibration isincreased in a specific frequency band, the left and right soundseparation partition portions 650 and 650′ can absorb the interferencevibration. Accordingly, it may be possible to appropriately cope withboth the weak interference and the strong interference of left sound andright sound.

As described above, by forming the sound separation partition portion ina triple wall structure and increasing the height H2 of the centralsound separation partition portion to be larger than the height H3 ofthe left and right sound separation partition portions, it may bepossible to prevent the drastic sound pressure reduction phenomenon at aspecific frequency by left and right sound interference at the time ofimplementing mono sound.

FIG. 13 illustrates sound generating characteristics in the case ofusing the example of FIG. 10 according to the example embodiment. As wasillustrated in FIG. 10, the sound separation partition portion 600 wasdisposed at the center of the display panel 100, the distance 2d betweenthe left and right sound generating actuators 200 and 200′ was adjustedto about 400 mm or less, and the left and right sound generatingactuators 200 and 200′ were symmetrically disposed at the centers of thecorresponding air gap spaces 800 and 800′, respectively. Then the soundoutput characteristics at each frequency were measured, and the resultsare represented in FIG. 13.

The dotted line in FIG. 13 indicates a sound characteristic curve in thecase where a sound separation partition portion is included, the entiredisplay panel is used as a vibration plate, and the distance betweenleft and right sound generating actuators is increased (e.g., thestructure of FIG. 8A), and the solid line indicates a soundcharacteristic curve in the case where a part of the display panel isused as a vibration plate while setting the distance between the leftand right sound generating actuators to be 400 mm or less (e.g., FIG.10).

As illustrated in FIG. 13, it can be seen that the use of the exampleembodiment of FIG. 10 may significantly improve the dip phenomenon,which is a sound pressure reduction phenomenon in a mid-high sound range(several kHz to several tens of kHz), as compared with the exampleembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8E (see area B in FIG. 13).

However, in the example embodiment of FIG. 10, the area of the displaypanel vibrated by the left and right sound generating actuators, thatis, the size of each air gap space, may be reduced. As the area of thedisplay panel utilized as the vibration plate is reduced, the output ofthe low sound range may be reduced as indicated by area C in FIG. 13.

In order to solve the problem of weakening the low sound, the exampleembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B proposes a structure inwhich a separate low sound speaker is further disposed.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a structure further including a low soundspeaker disposed outside the first air gap space AG1 and the second airgap space AG2, in addition to the sound generating actuator structureaccording to the example embodiment.

As described with reference to FIG. 13, when the example embodiment ofFIG. 10 is used, there may be a possibility that a phenomenon in whichthe sound pressure of the low sound range decreases.

In order to solve this problem, the example embodiment of FIGS. 14A and14B further includes a low sound speaker 900 disposed outside the soundgenerating structure, in addition to the sound generating structureincluding the left and right sound generating actuators.

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, left and right sound generatingactuators 200 and 200′ and a baffle portion 1400 for forming air gapspaces 800 and 800′ surrounding the actuators 200 and 200′, as describedwith reference to FIG. 10, are formed in a part of a display panel, andat least one or more low sound speaker 900 is disposed outside the firstair gap space 800 (AG1) and the second air gap space 800′ (AG2).

Such a low sound speaker 900 may be a general type of speaker, or may bea woofer speaker that generates a sound of several kHz or less. Such alow sound speaker 900 may be disposed below the air gap spaces asillustrated in FIG. 14A. However, without being limited thereto, the lowsound speaker may be disposed at a side of the air gap spaces or abovethe air gap spaces.

In addition, only one low sound speaker 900 may be disposed withoutseparating left and right, but two or more low sound speakers may bearranged on the left and right sides to separate left and right soundsof the low sound range. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, the soundseparation partition portion 600 may be formed to extend to the lowerportion of the air gap spaces 800 and 800′. Further, a left low soundspeaker 900 and a right low sound speaker 900′ may be respectivelydisposed on the left and right sides of the sound separation partitionportion 600 formed to extend as described above.

The low sound speakers arranged in this manner may reduce the soundpressure reduction phenomenon of the low sound range, which may becaused in the example embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 10, to maintainthe sound output characteristic in the entire sound range. For example,when left and right low sound speakers are provided, there is anadvantage in that stereo sound can be implemented even in the low soundrange.

FIG. 15 illustrates sound generating characteristics when the exampleembodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B is used, in which a sound characteristiccurve obtained by the low sound speaker, a sound characteristic curveobtained by the sound generating actuator, and a phenomenon in the twosound characteristic curves intersect at an intersection P areillustrated.

In FIG. 15, the one-dot chain line is a sound characteristic curveobtained by a low sound speaker (woofer speaker), and the solid line isa sound characteristic curve of the sound output device having left andright sound generating actuators according to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 15, the sound characteristic curves of the embodimentof FIG. 10 indicates that the sound pressure is increased at about 1 kHzto output sound to be equal to or higher than a predetermined level upto about 20 kHz, and the low sound speaker has a characteristic ofemitting low sound in the frequency band of about 100 Hz to 2000 Hz.

At this time, the intersection point P of the sound characteristic curveobtained by the left and right sound generating actuators according tothe embodiment of FIG. 10 and the sound characteristic curve obtained bya low sound speaker is formed in the frequency band of about 1 kHz to1.5 kHz.

As described above, when a separate low sound speaker is furtherprovided in addition to a panel vibration type sound generatingstructure and the sound generating actuator and the low sound speakerare configured to cross over at about 1 kHz to 1.5 kHz, there may be anadvantage in that the stereo sense may be maximized while ensuring asound output of a predetermined level or more in the entire frequencyband.

As described above, according to the example embodiment, it may bepossible to realize excellent stereo sound in a panel vibration typesound generating display device by including left and right soundgenerating actuators disposed at predetermined left and right positionsin a display panel, and a sound separation partition portion disposedbetween the left and right sound generating actuators, as well as abaffle portion surrounding the periphery of the left and right soundgenerating actuators together with the sound separation partitionportion.

Also, it may be possible to improve left and right stereo soundimplementation characteristics by forming the central sound separationpartition portion between the left and right sound generating actuators,adjusting, for example, the height and number of the sound separationpartition portions, and determining whether to bond or not the soundseparation partition portions to the display panel.

Further, by adjusting the distance between the sound separationpartition portion disposed at the center of the display panel and theleft and right sound generating actuators for realizing left and rightstereo sound to be 200 mm or less, it may be possible to reduce the dipphenomenon that is a sound quality reduction phenomenon in the mid-highsound range.

By arranging the sound separation partition portion and the baffleportion to form the first and second air gap spaces are symmetricallyformed around the left and right sound generating actuators, the stereosound characteristic, and the durability and reliability of the soundgenerating device can be ensured.

Also, by further arranging a low sound speaker at one side of a left andright sound generating actuator structure for generating sound of amid-high sound range by directly vibrating the display panel, it may bepossible to obtain excellent sound output characteristics in the entireaudible frequency band.

Further, by fixing sound generating actuators to the support holesformed in the support portion of the display device, it may be possibleto reduce the thickness of the display device while ensuring anexcellent sound generating performance.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,a display device includes a display panel, sound generating actuatorsincluding a first sound generating actuator in a first area of thedisplay panel and a second sound generating actuator in a second area ofthe display panel, the first and second sound generating actuatorsconfigured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, and apartition between the first sound generating actuator and the secondsound generating actuator.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the display device may further include a support portion configured tosupport a rear portion of the display panel.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition may separate sound between the first and second areas.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition may be in contact with the display panel and the supportportion.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition may extend in a vertical direction of the display panel.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the sound generating actuator may comprise a lower plate, a magnet onthe lower plate, a center pole at the center of the lower plate, abobbin surrounding the center pole, and a coil wound around the bobbin.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,a distance between the partition and the first sound generating actuatoror the second sound generating actuator may be 100 nm or more.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the support portion may include a cover bottom, the partition is betweenan upper surface of the cover bottom and a lower surface of the displaypanel, and the partition may be bonded to at least the upper surface ofthe cover bottom.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition my be in contact with the lower surface of the displaypanel in a non-adhesion structure.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the display device may further include baffles that respectivelysurround a periphery of the first sound generating actuator and thesecond sound generating actuator to form first and second spaces aroundthe first sound generating actuator and the second sound generatingactuator together with the partition.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the first sound generating actuator may be at a center of a left andright length of the first space, and the second sound generatingactuator may be at a center of a left and right length of the secondspace.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the first sound generating actuator may be at a center of a verticallength of the first space, and the second sound generating actuator maybe at a center of a vertical length of the second space.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition may have a multi-wall structure including first and secondsound separation portions at first and second sides of a center of thedisplay panel and at a first distance from the center of the displaypanel.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the display device may further include baffles that respectivelysurround a periphery of the first sound generating actuator and thesecond sound generating actuator to form first and second spaces aroundthe first sound generating actuator and the second sound generatingactuator with the partition, and at least one low sound speaker outsidethe first space and the second space.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the at least one low sound speaker may include a first low sound speakerat the first side of the partition and a second low sound speaker at thesecond side of the partition.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,sound of a mid-high sound range may be emitted by the sound generatingactuators, sound of a low sound range may be emitted by the low soundspeaker, and a frequency of an intersection point of a soundcharacteristic curve by the actuators and a sound characteristic curveby the low sound speaker may be 1 kHz-1.5 kHz.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the first or second sound generating actuator may be inserted into asupport hole provided in the support portion to be fixed to the supportportion.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the first or second sound generating actuator may include at least oneof a lower plate inserted into the support hole, a magnet on the lowerplate, a center pole at a center of the lower plate, a bobbin tosurround a periphery of the center pole and having a tip end in contactwith the display panel, and a coil wound around an outer periphery ofthe bobbin.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the lower plate may further include an extension portion extendingoutwardly, and the extension portion may be fixed to the lower surfaceof the support portion.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the display device may further include baffles that respectivelysurround a periphery of the first sound generating actuator and thesecond sound generating actuator to form first and second spaces aroundthe first sound generating actuator and the second sound generatingactuator together with the partition, the baffles may include at leastone of an adhesive member bonded to an upper surface of the supportportion or a lower surface of the display panel, and a sealing portionbetween the upper surface of the support portion and the lower surfaceof the display panel.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the partition may extend in the vertical direction of the display panelat a center between the first sound generating actuator and the secondsound generating actuator.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,a support hole may be formed through the support portion.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the sound generating actuator may be fixed in the support hole.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,a display device includes a display panel, sound generating actuators ina first area of the display panel and a second area of the displaypanel, the sound generating actuators configured to vibrate the displaypanel to generate sound, at least one of the first and second areasincludes two or more sound generating actuators, and a partition betweenthe first and second areas.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,a display device includes a display panel, sound generating actuators ina first area of the display panel and a second area of the displaypanel, the sound generating actuators configured to vibrate the displaypanel to generate sound, a speaker outside the first area and the secondarea.

According to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure,the speaker may be configured to generate sound in a different rangefrom the sound generating actuators.

Configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosuremay provide a number of attributes. For example, a panel vibration typedisplay device is capable of generating sound by directly vibrating adisplay panel constituting the display device, and outputting differentsounds to left and right so as to implement stereo sound.

Further, a panel vibration type display device may include left andright sound generating actuators disposed at predetermined left andright positions in a display panel, and a sound separation partitionportion disposed between the left and right sound generating actuators,as well as a baffle portion surrounding the periphery of the left andright sound generating actuators together with the sound separationpartition portion.

Additionally, a display panel may be formed by one or more soundseparation partition portions in a central portion between two or moresound generating actuators disposed in the left and right portions ofthe display panel, adjusting the height and number of the soundseparation partition portions, and determining whether to bond the soundseparation partition portions to the display panel.

Also, a display device may include adjusting the distance between thesound separation partition portion disposed at the center of the displaypanel and the left and right sound generating actuators for implementingthe left and right stereo sound to be 200 mm or less.

Furthermore, a display device may include arranging the sound separationpartition portion and the baffle portion to form the first and secondair gap spaces are symmetrically formed around the left and right soundgenerating actuators.

In addition, a display device may include further arranging a low soundspeaker at one side of a left and right sound generating actuatorstructure that generates sound of a mid-high sound range by directlyvibrating a display panel.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations may be made in the present disclosurewithout departing from the technical idea or scope of the disclosure.Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the present disclosure coverthe modifications and variations of the disclosure provided they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a display panel;sound generating actuators including: a first sound generating actuatorin a first area of the display panel, and a second sound generatingactuator in a second area of the display panel, the first and secondsound generating actuators configured to vibrate the display panel togenerate sound; and a partition between the first sound generatingactuator and the second sound generating actuator.
 2. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first sound generating actuator andthe second sound generating actuator are spaced apart from the partitionin the first area and the second area, respectively.
 3. The displaydevice according to claim 1, further comprising: a support structureconfigured to support a rear portion of the display panel.
 4. Thedisplay device according to claim 3, wherein an uncompressed height ofthe partition is equal to or larger than a gap between the display paneland the support structure.
 5. The display device according to claim 3,wherein the partition is in contact with the display panel and thesupport structure.
 6. The display device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a support structure including a cover bottom and configuredto support a rear portion of the display panel; and a baffle between thedisplay panel and the support structure, wherein the baffle andpartition together form a first air gap space and a second air gap spacefor sound transmission between the display panel and the cover bottom,and wherein the display panel functions as a vibration plate.
 7. Thedisplay device according to claim 6, wherein the first sound generatingactuator and the second sound generating actuator are arrangedasymmetrically in the first air gap space and the second air gap space,respectively.
 8. The display device according to claim 6, wherein thefirst sound generating actuator and the second sound generating actuatorare arranged horizontally and vertically symmetrically in the first airgap space and the second air gap space, respectively.
 9. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein each of the sound generatingactuators comprises: a lower plate; a magnet on the lower plate; acenter pole at a center of the lower plate; a bobbin surrounding thecenter pole; and a coil wound around the bobbin.
 10. The display deviceof claim 3, wherein: the support structure includes a cover bottom, thepartition is between an upper surface of the cover bottom and a lowersurface of the display panel, and the partition is bonded to the uppersurface of the cover bottom.
 11. The display device of claim 10, whereinthe partition contacts the lower surface of the display panel withoutadhesive therebetween.
 12. The display device of claim 1, wherein thepartition has a multi-wall structure including first and second soundseparation portions at first and second sides relative to a center ofthe display panel and both at a first distance from the center of thedisplay panel.
 13. The display device of claim 3, wherein the supportstructure includes a support hole, and the first or second soundgenerating actuator is in the support hole.
 14. The display device ofclaim 9, wherein: the lower plate includes an extension portionextending outwardly, and the extension portion is fixed to a lowersurface of the support structure.
 15. The display device of claim 3,wherein a support hole is formed through the support structure.
 16. Thedisplay device of claim 15, wherein one of the sound generatingactuators is in the support hole.
 17. The display device of claim 1,wherein at least one of the first and second areas includes two or moresound generating actuators.
 18. A display device, comprising: a displaypanel; sound generating actuators in a first area of the display paneland a second area of the display panel, the sound generating actuatorsconfigured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, wherein atleast one of the first and second areas includes two or more soundgenerating actuators; and a partition between the first and secondareas.
 19. The display device according to claim 18, wherein a soundgenerating actuator in the first area and a sound generating actuator inthe second area are respectively spaced apart from a left side and aright side of the partition.
 20. The display device according to claim18, further comprising: a support portion configured to support a rearportion of the display panel.
 21. The display device according to claim20, wherein an uncompressed height of the partition is equal to orlarger than a gap between the display panel and the support portion. 22.The display device according to claim 18, further comprising: a supportportion including a cover bottom and configured to support a rearportion of the display panel; and a baffle between the display panel andthe support portion, wherein the baffle and partition together form afirst air gap space and a second air gap space for sound transmissionbetween the display panel and the cover bottom, and wherein the displaypanel functions as a vibration plate.
 23. The display device accordingto claim 22, wherein the sound generating actuators in the first areaand the second area of the display panel are arranged asymmetrically inthe first air gap space and the second air gap space, respectively. 24.The display device according to claim 22, wherein the sound generatingactuators in the first area and the second area of the display panel arearranged horizontally and vertically symmetrically in the first air gapspace and the second air gap space, respectively.
 25. The display deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein each of the sound generating actuatorscomprises: a lower plate; a magnet on the lower plate; a center pole ata center of the lower plate; a bobbin surrounding the center pole; and acoil wound around the bobbin.
 26. The display device of claim 20,wherein the support portion includes a support hole, and one of thesound generating actuators is in the support hole.
 27. The displaydevice of claim 25, wherein: the lower plate includes an extensionportion extending outwardly, and the extension portion is fixed to alower surface of the support portion.
 28. The display device of claim20, wherein a support hole is formed through the support portion. 29.The display device of claim 28, wherein one of the sound generatingactuators is fixed in the support hole.
 30. The display device of claim1, wherein the sound generating actuators are behind the display paneland contact the display panel.
 31. The display device of claim 1,wherein the display panel is configured to display an image at the firstarea and the second area.
 32. The display device of claim 18, whereinthe sound generating actuators are behind the display panel and contactthe display panel.
 33. The display device of claim 18, wherein thedisplay panel is configured to display an image at the first area andthe second area.